Portable saw



United States Patent [72] inventor Ralph R. Crow P. 0. Box 8, Saratoga, Wyoming 82331 [21] Appl. No. 717,861 [22] Filed April 1, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 29, 1970 [54] PORTABLE SAW 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 143/19, 83/4, 83/201, 143/30 [51] Int. Cl B27b 15/02 [50] Field ofSearch 143/17v 17-l,19.30, 32: 83/201: 143/17-32: 83/4. 201

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,512,425 10/1924 Klopfenstein l43/19(.5)UX 2,722,953 11/1955 Lee 143/19(.5)UX 3,225,799 12/1965 Hayden et a1 143/32 FOREIGN PATENTS 904,386 2/1945 France l43/l9(.3)UX 408,390 9/1966 Switzerland l43/19(.3)UX

Primary ExaminerDonald R. Schran Attorney- Richards, Harris and Hubbard ABSTRACT: A frame supports a pair of wheels mounted for rotation on spaced parallel axes. A continuous sawband is driven about the peripheries of the wheels. At least one, motor is mounted between the wheels to' rotate the wheels by direct frictional contact against the wheels. A horizontal roller is mounted on the frame for beating against the upper portion of a felled log to guide the lower portion of the sawband through the felled log as the frame is moved along the length of the log. Mechanism isprovided to vary the distance between the roller and the frame to allow for selective adjustment of the depth of the cut through log.

Patented Sept. 29, 1970 if v. new Q j FINVENTOR RALPH R. CROW ATTORNEY- PORTABLE SAW FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to portable saws, and more particularly to portable bandsaws for use in cutting along the length of felled timber.

THE PRIOR ART It has long been desirable for a lumberman to be able to suitably trim felled logs in the field, rather than transporting the logs to a saw mill for trimming and seasoning. By sawing felled logs in the field into rectangular cross sectional configurations, the logs may be piled upon one another and dried at the cutting site. Once seasoned, the timber may be moved to a saw mill for edging, planing and shipping. It has been found that warpage of lumber is substantially reduced if the lumber can be seasoned in this manner before edging.

It has been heretofore proposed to mount guide members along a felled log and then to transport a saw along the guide members to saw through a length of the log. Examples of such saws are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,249, issued Nov. 6, I962; U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,909, issued Dec. 3|, 1963: and U.S. Pat. No. 3,285,301, issued Nov. 15, i966. However this type of saw generally has not been sufficiently portable to allow ease of use by a single operator, and has often presented problems in the proper attachment of the guide members to the log.

Attachments have heretofore been developed for connection to-existing portable chain saws which include roller members movable along the upper surface of a felled log to guide the chain saw through the length of the log. Examples of such attachments are described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,409. issued May 26, 1964 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,799, issued Dec. 28, I965. While chain saws utilizing such attachments are sufficiently portable to be used by a single operator in the field, such saws are sometimes difficult to evenly guide through felled timber due to the lack of symmetry resulting from the mounting of the motor on one end of the saw. Further, due to the thickness of the chain saw, relatively wide cuts must be made through the log. Additionally, such attachments have not heretofore been provided with handles which allow an operator to saw through a log by merely walking upright along the log.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION motor mounted on the frame between the wheels rotates the wheels to drive the sawband through the log below the rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a saw according to the inventioncutting through a felled log;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the saw shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is an end view ofthe saw shown in FIG. 1.

:Referring to FIG. I, the present saw is designated generally by the numeral and comprises a first pneumatic bicycle wheel 12 and a second bicycle wheel 14 mounted for rotation in the same plane at opposite ends of a pair of horizontal support bars 16 and I8. Each of the wheels 12 and 14 are of the conventional type used on bicycles and include spoked rims supporting rubber tires. Wheel 12 rotates about an axle 20 which is held in place between the bars 16 and 18 by a bolt 22 in order to allow selective adjustment of the position of the tire 12 along the bars 16 and 18. Wheel 14 is mounted for rotation on axle 24 and is adjustable with respect to the bars 16 and 18 by means ofa bolt 26.

A continuous loop sawband 28 passes around the tires 12 and 14. A pair of motors 30 and 32 are mounted between the tires 12 and 14 on support members 34 and 36. Members 34 and 36 are rigidly connected to a support base member 38 connected between the bars 16 and 18. A pair of length adjustable members 40 and 42 provide additional support to the motors 30 and 32.

Motors 30 and 32 are conventional gasoline-powered motors which are started by manual operation of hand pulleys 44 and 46. The rotating output shafts 48 and 50 of motors 30 and 32 are held directly against the rubber outer peripheries of the tires 12 and 14, such that operation of the motors 30 and 32 tends to rotate the wheels 12 and 14 in the same direction. The magnitude of the frictional force of the output shafts 48 and 50 against the tires may be varied by selective adjustment of the length of members 40 and 42. Rotation of the tires 12 and 14 causes the sawband 28 to rotate in a closed loop.

Pairs of vertical bars 52 and 54 (FIG. 3) extend downwardly from the support bars 16 and 18 in regions generally beneath each of the motors 30 and 32. Each pair of the bars 52 and 54 supports guide members 56 and 58. A pair of roller members 59 and 60 (FIG. 3) are disposed between the vertical bars 52 and 54 to serve as guide members for saw 10. Elongated threaded screws 62 and 64 are disposed through the vertical bars 52 and 54. The end of the screws 62 and 64 are connected to the ends of the roller members 59 and 60 in order to enable the roller members 59 and 60 to be vertically adjusted along the lengths of the vertical rods 52 and 54.

Each of the guide members 56 and 58 include slots 68 therethrough which serve as guides for the sawband 28. Horizontal rollers 70 are disposed within the slots 68 to facilitate the passage of the sawband 28 through the guide members and to maintain the proper positioning of the sawband.

A pair of outwardly sloping bars 72 and 74 are connected at their lowermost ends to the guide members 56 and 58 by suitable bolts. Struts 76 provide support to the bars 72 and 74. Mounting brackets 78 and 80 are connected to the bars 72 and 74 to support a horizontal handle bar 86. The mounting brackets 78 and 80 are adjustable along the length of bar 72 and 74 to allow the handle bar 86 to be adjusted for the convenience of the user.

Operation of the saw will be apparent upon inspection of the drawings. The saw is light enough to be easily portable to the field. In use, the saw is placed on the top ofa felled log 90 such that the spaced roller members 59 and 60 rest upon the top of the log. If desired, a uniform board may be first nailed along the length of the felled log before making the first cut with the saw, in order to provide a uniform first cut through the log.

Motors 30 and 32 are started so that the sawband 28 rotates at a relatively high speed. The operator then takes hold of the handle bar 86 and pushes the saw along the length of the felled log. The lower portion of sawband 28 cuts through the log as shown in the drawing. The threaded screws 62 and 64 may be adjusted in order to vary the depth of the cut of the saw through the log 90. With the use of the present saw, logs may be cut for stacking and drying in the field, or the logs may be directly sawed into boards in the field.

It will be understood that, if desired, only one motor could be employed to drive the saw. Further, instead of the direct drive of the tires, suitable chain linkage drive may be provided for certain applications of the saw.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable saw assembly comprising:

a frame; a pair of wheels having spokes and rubber tires and mounted on the frame for rotation in a vertical plane; a continuous sawband constrained around the tires of the wheels for sawing movement in the plane of rotation of 5 the wheels; motor means mounted on the frame for driving the wheels and the sawband;

a pair of horizontally extending log engaging rollers 0 

